Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 475 - 471 Weekend Plans, Scheming Against Zhang Tianlong?

Chapter 475: Chapter 471 Weekend Plans, Scheming Against Zhang Tianlong?

Recess

Another recess.

Ni Qiuping had made both sides take a step back, resulting in a temporary adjournment.

And now, Zhang Wei along with Master Tang and his senior apprentice, were right there in Ni Qiuping’s office.

"When is the next court session planned?"

Although Ni Qiuping was asking again, her gaze slid towards Zhang Wei.

Because she knew, for Master Tang, the longer the delay, the better. He would even prefer the trial to be next week or perhaps the week after.

Next week, with a little more delay, Zhan Qingze would be discharged from the hospital.

The week after next, it might be that Zhan Qingze’s case would already be set for a verdict.

Once Zhan Qingze was convicted, there would really be no need to spare any effort on this case.

"Zhang Wei, you suggest a time. Which day this week do you want the trial to reconvene?"

"Judge Ni, you don’t need to ask me. I think the defense can propose a time first."

"Are you serious?"

Ni Qiuping was taken aback and turned her gaze to Master Tang and his two apprentices.

Sun Kongwen didn’t hesitate and stepped forward, "Judge Ni, our client, President Qian said that the trial has consumed too much of her energy. So, she hopes that during the remaining time of this week, she can deal with some company matters."

"She strongly requests that the next formal hearing be postponed to the beginning of next week!"

Ni Qiuping glanced at her calendar, "But there are still three days left in this week?"

"Judge Ni, actually I think it’s okay, how about starting the session next Monday?"

But at this moment, Zhang Wei spoke up.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

And the words he spoke left both Ni Qiuping and Master Tang slightly taken aback, the pair almost thought they had misheard.

Aren’t you in a rush?

Today in court, you were pressing the witness so hard, and in the end, you even revealed Lord Tiger’s identity. Aren’t you planning to press your advantage?

You actually want to postpone until next week?

You’d be okay with a trial on Friday, but are you willing to have a gap of 3 workdays and 2 weekend days, leaving all that time for the jury to rest?

"The defense agrees with Lawyer Zhang’s view. Starting the session next Monday sounds good!"

But since Zhang Wei had initiated the suggestion, Sun Kongwen immediately stated his support, thereby blocking any objection from Ni Qiuping.

Look, both the prosecution and defense have agreed. We’ll have the trial next Monday, so let’s not be pushy, Judge.

"Okay then, later I’ll have the clerk inform the jury to adjust this week, and to rest over the weekend in preparation for Monday’s trial."

"So it’s settled. There will be no hearing this week. The next hearing is scheduled for next Monday morning."

"Thank you, Old Ni, for your hard work!"

Zhang Wei expressed his gratitude, then politely left the office.

This scene somewhat surprised both Ni Qiuping and Master Tang.

How had Zhang Wei managed to look triumphant, as if his plans had succeeded?

Could it be that he had already made some kind of preparation in secret?

"Go back and tell Qian Moli to review the company’s documents once more, check the background of all informed individuals to ensure there are no oversights inside Dongxing Securities!"

"Additionally, you and your fellow apprentices stay inside Dongxing Securities these next few days, give all employees who will take the stand a mock cross-examination, ensuring they can handle surprise summoning by Zhang Wei!"

"While you’re in Dongxing Securities, pay close attention to the company’s internal atmosphere to make sure there are no spies sent by Zhang Wei’s side. If anyone is found snooping around for information they shouldn’t be, deal with them directly!"

As he stepped out of the office, Master Tang instructed his senior apprentice in this way.

"Master, rest assured. My fellow apprentices and I know what to do!"

Sun Kongwen bowed in acceptance of the task and went to gather his junior and senior apprentices.

Master Tang, however, was staring down the courthouse corridor, gazing in the direction Zhang Wei had left, lost in thought.

"Why insist on a five-day interval? What could you be planning, kid? Next week Zhan Qingze should be able to move around. The week after that, we must get him to trial quickly and finish this session!"

"Just last until the week after next, and this case will be completely categorized. Then the ultimate victory will certainly belong to Fierce Tiger Hall, and you, Zhang Wei, will have no chance to turn the tables!"

Having come to this conclusion, Master Tang had already figured out his next course of action.

That’s it, drag it out!

Once Zhan Qingze is convicted, they will have won.

But would Zhang Wei let them stall for time so easily?

...

At Zhang’s Martial Arts School, inside the temporary war room.

"Zhang Wei, why is the trial scheduled for next Monday?"

"And where is Little Sister Xiao Xia? Isn’t she your bodyguard? Why isn’t she here?"

This time, it was Zhang Xinwu who raised her hand to speak. She looked around, only to find that Xia Qianyue was not present.

"She was called back by Captain Wu, who said there might be a provisional assignment that required her awareness. I told her to go back and exchange some information. Don’t worry, she will still come over."

After responding, Zhang Wei swiftly wrote three characters on the blackboard.

"Zhang Dihu, who is this person?"

Zhang Xinwu asked curiously.

"Xiao Xiao, stop playing with the computer, and give Sister Xiao Wu a briefing on who this is."

Zhang Wei quickly called out to his second daughter, who was looking down at her computer, to look up at the blackboard.

"Oh, Zhang Dihu, huh? The second in his family, the brother of the most hypocritical Zhang Tianlong from the Zhang Family."

"Zhang Tianlong, the Zhang Tianlong who is the Councilor Head of Dongfang Capital City Council?"

"Yes, there’s only one Zhang Tianlong in Dongfang Capital, and that’s him~"

As Zhao Xiaoxiao spoke, she also leaned toward Zhang Xinwu’s ear and whispered, "Actually, there’s a little rumor that Zhang Dihu is Lord Tiger, the boss of Fierce Tiger Hall, but no one can prove this point."

"Lord Tiger!" This time, Zhang Xinwu was unsettled.

The name was vaguely familiar to her, someone involved in the martial arts circles and who had dealings with all walks of life in Dongfang Capital.

Anyway, within Dongfang Capital’s gang powers, this person was regarded with deep taboo!

"Indeed, Zhang Dihu is Lord Tiger, and Lord Tiger is Zhang Dihu!"

Zhang Wei tapped on the three characters on the blackboard, speaking gravely, "This case of ours, bluntly put, is about challenging this man’s authority!"

"A match of strength with Lord Tiger?" Zhang Xinwu was flabbergasted, her mouth agape, unable to close it for a long while.

"Wasn’t it a securities company? How does it involve gang members..."

"Because Dongxing Securities is Zhang Dihu’s moneybag!"

Zhang Wei laid it all out, sharing the intelligence he had gathered.

"Dongxing Securities has been making a lot of money through covert arrangements every time the investment market experiences major fluctuations, and all this money ends up in Zhang Dihu’s pockets. This time, it’s the same with the 20 billion!"

"Every time, on the surface, they say they are cooperating with the Financial Bureau’s investigation, but in reality, their method is to secretly sacrifice an unsuspecting employee, making them take the fall for the company. By falsifying documents and records, they blame the projects that caused massive investor losses on that employee, thus making them the scapegoat!"

"This time it’s Zhan Qingze, last time it was Wu Mo, the time before that it was Lei someone, and the first time it was Dai Someone. They were all made to take the fall for huge losses, but the real culprits, Qian Moli and Zhang Dihu, are still at large!"

"This..."

Upon hearing Zhang Wei’s explanation, Zhang Xinwu was finally unsettled.

Is this what the capital market is like?

The rich concoct ways to harvest the money of the poor, and the poor remain in the dark right to the end, thinking they have found the real perpetrator of their losses, unaware that it’s just a decoy put forward by the rich for them to blame.

"If we can’t bring them to justice this time, then next time, they might pull an even crueler stunt, and then the losses suffered by investors might be 100 billion, 200 billion, or even more."

"With all that money, how much is from people like our clients, who believed their sales pitch, sold everything they had, homes included, and took out mortgages to buy stocks? They thought they would make a profit, but they ended up losing even their capital!"

Hearing this, both Zhao Xiaoxiao and Zhang Xinwu turned somber.

If it were true, how many families in Dongfang Capital would go bankrupt? It was unimaginable.

After working hard all their lives, saving so much money, to lose it all because they trusted a sales call, investing everything into the market.

The very market you thought would make you wealthy was actually scheming to take your money, leaving you with nothing, driving you to bankruptcy. Could you endure that?

In the end, the rooftops of the skyscrapers in Dongfang Capital might suddenly get very crowded.

"By the way, why are you setting the court session for next week?"

"Why not use the remaining three days of this week to press our advantage?"

Zhao Xiaoxiao also raised her hand, her expression quizzical.

"Because it’s very simple, only over this weekend can we obtain the evidence needed for a turnaround!"

"This weekend?"

Zhao Xiaoxiao and Zhang Xinwu looked at each other. Was there something happening this weekend?

"Zhang Wei, I’m back!"

Just then, a sweet and innocent voice came from the entrance of the martial arts school.

"Simple-minded person, how did it go, what’s the situation?"

"Well, Captain Wu said there might be a secret operation this weekend and asked if I wanted to join. I said I might need to ensure your safety, so I guess I won’t be joining..."

Hearing Xia Qianyue’s report, Zhang Wei nodded.

"Indeed, that operation is stupid enough, destined to fail. Your participation would be meaningless!"

"How can you say that? They’ve been preparing for the operation for a long time, and the anti-gang task force on their side has..."

Xia Qianyue was about to add something when she suddenly realized the operation was a confidential mission and she couldn’t reveal it.

"Anti-gang task force?"

Zhang Xinwu and Zhao Xiaoxiao, who were standing by, were both surprised.

What does the weekend have to do with the anti-gang task force?

"Heh, I guessed it long ago, from the Procuratorate Headquarters to the major case squad, even close to the investigation department. I even asked Guider Zhou and my father-in-law."

As Zhang Wei spoke, he quickly wrote a line on the blackboard.

"The anti-gang task force is carrying out an operation this weekend, involving gang members."

"That’s what I guessed. The Procuratorate will have cooperate, your major case squad will have to cooperate, but I think it’s pointless."

Zhang Wei sneered internally, because the anti-gang task force’s operation was fated to "fail".

This so-called failure wasn’t about not capturing anyone, but about not capturing key figures.

It’s possible that a part of the gang will send some scapegoats, or underlings to take the blame, and get through this operation with that.

So the anti-gang task force will have captured some people, maybe not just small fry, perhaps even a mid-level leader, enough to settle the matter.

The major case squad and the Procuratorate will also get a share of the merits, but what does that accomplish?

The ones who suffer in this operation are just those underlings who will be arrested; not a single high-ranking member of the gang will be caught.

Isn’t that a failure?

After all, although this operation is secret, it’s an open secret to some high-ranking eyes.

"Zhang Tianlong, Zhang Dihu, they are the real issues!"

Zhang Wei said, pulling out his phone to open a message.

"Simple-minded, accompany me to this place over the weekend!"

"What place?"

Xia Qianyue took the phone, only to see that the city council speaker’s office had declared they would hold a charity gala.

Since the problem with the First Auction House’s charity gala, Zhang Tianlong decided to use his status as council speaker to convene a second charity gala.

And the venue for the gala was at a mansion in the suburbs.

According to Zhang Wei’s investigation, this mansion was actually registered under Zhang Dihu’s name and was his private estate.

Although the property was obtained by Zhang Dihu legally, it was obvious to anyone that the estate was an asset of Fierce Tiger Hall, perhaps even their main headquarters.

Therefore, this mansion was naturally a true dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.

"By the way, watch a good show later when the city council speaker’s office releases their statement," Zhang Wei said, and had Zhao Xiaoxiao turn on the computer to connect to the live broadcast.

"What’s so interesting about a press conference?" Although Zhao Xiaoxiao was reluctant, she complied.

"I’ve arranged a little surprise for our city council speaker at this press conference."

After chuckling, Zhang Wei pointed to the podium on the computer screen.

...

Meanwhile, at the same time.

The city council reception hall was getting ready for a press conference.

In front of the podium, naturally, Dongfang Capital’s reporters were packed, crowding even the hallways.

The reason it was bustling late into the evening was that the city council speaker, Zhang Tianlong, was set to give a speech.

Of course, the reporters had a general idea of the message already.

It was probably because there were issues at the last charity gala, so the council speaker decided to host another one in his own name.

Of course, the scale of this event might be a bit smaller, and the pomp relatively modest.

There’s also no need to pick a venue as large as the First Auction House; let’s choose an estate in the suburbs.

Zhang Tianlong came out just to announce the time and place of the party, list some potential guests, and make some perfunctory remarks.

So, although the reporters were prepared for action, they actually knew there wouldn’t be any sensational news this time.

All they did was dutifully write down exactly what Zhang Tianlong said, word for word.

"Time’s up!"

No one knew who in the audience shouted, but the reception hall suddenly quieted down.

Then, amid the "enthusiastic" applause, Zhang Tianlong, waving his hand, stepped onto the podium.

"Hello everyone, I am Zhang Tianlong..."

After the familiar opening and self-introduction, Zhang Tianlong began to announce the details of the party.

Everyone jotted down each word, and no one asked questions.

After all, this was a VIP, and there is a protocol for interviewing VIPs—you wait for them to finish their statements before you may ask questions.

"...So, I have decided to host another charity event this weekend, as a way to make up for the previous one. I hope you all will come and support it."

After Zhang Tianlong finished speaking, he looked at the journalists in front of him.

"If anyone has any questions, you are welcome to ask now."

As soon as his words fell, two people, a man and a woman, suddenly raised their hands excitedly.

Their reactions were so swift that all other reporters seemed to lag behind.

"Please, speak!" Zhang Tianlong said with a smile, signaling the two individuals to begin their questions.

"Councilor Head Zhang, according to what we have heard, someone alleged in court that your brother, Zhang Dihu, is the leader of the largest gang in Dongfang Capital, the Fierce Tiger Hall. Is this information true?"

The silence was deafening as soon as the question was asked.

Even Zhang Tianlong’s expression froze.

Who is this, asking such a question? For sure, this wasn’t someone they had arranged beforehand!

"You are..."

"Councilor Head Zhang, I am the chief editor of Dongfang Capital’s Entertainment Tabloid, and my last name is Pei."

"Your question is purely slanderous, how could my brother possibly be a gang member? He’s a philanthropist, a good person who frequently does charity work. Please do not associate him with so-called gang members. That’s defamation."

As Zhang Tianlong spoke, he even laughed, prompting many in the audience to play along.

"But, the boss of the Fierce Tiger Hall, Lord Tiger, is rumored to have an affair with the head of Dongxing Securities, and someone has taken photos of Qian Moli vacationing together with your brother!"

Again, Zhang Tianlong looked at the woman who asked the question, standing beside the editor from before, obviously in cahoots.

"That’s impossible. My brother and the head of Dongxing Securities might just be friends. And as for where they vacation, that’s their business. Even if they happened to run into each other, so what?"

"Councilor Head Zhang, we heard that the Dongfang Capital Martial Association has some operations planned for this weekend, apparently involving gang members. If your brother is not the leader of the Fierce Tiger Hall, then where should he be this weekend?"

"This..."

Zhang Tianlong inwardly cursed at the intel, which he knew about, but the general public didn’t. How did these two get wind of it?

However, with everyone’s eyes on him, it was neither the time to burst out in anger nor to question his subordinates on how the information had leaked.

"During the weekend, my brother will naturally accompany me to the charity party. He should be with me at that time."

"Oh, then we will rest assured. If your brother is with you this weekend, then certainly he can’t be the leader of the Fierce Tiger Hall, right?"

After the man and the woman finished speaking, they slipped into the crowd and quietly left the scene.

They had completed the task assigned to them.

Next, they would leave Dongfang Capital overnight to lay low.

Meanwhile, back on the stage.

After being grilled with several pointed questions, Zhang Tianlong’s responses to the reporters grew muted.

"That will be all for today’s questions. If you have any further queries, you may contact the press secretary in my office."

Zhang Tianlong left the stage with a dark expression and silently noted the two individuals who had questioned him.

He swore to himself that he would erase this so-called Dongfang Capital Entertainment Tabloid from this city!

But what he didn’t know was that the tabloid had already been deregistered a few days prior.

Now any attempt to trace it would lead to no information whatsoever.